The adage ‘there are no permanent enemies in politics’ came true on Thursday when KP Sharma Oli started his second tenure as Prime Minister of Nepal with the support of CPN (Maoist Centre).

CPN had moved the no confidence motion against Oli to end his first tenure as PM in July 2016, in just nine months. Bringing to an end the months long soured relationship between UML and CPN in October last year, Oli agreed to form a poll alliance for the House of Representatives, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies giving stability and prosperity as their political agenda. The alliance got a thumping majority in all elections and opened the door for the alliance to lead the government.

Born in 1952 in Tehrathum, Oli joined politics when he registered as member of the Communist Party of Nepal in 1970. Creating awareness among the people against then autocratic party-less Panchyat system under the Monarchy was his job as the cadre of the party.

While doing this work the police arrested him in 1973. He served prison term of 14 years till his release in 1987. He is also the founding Chairman of National Youth Association, now Youth Association, which was formed in May 15, 1990.

He was elected as the Member of Parliament in the first election held in 1991 after the restoration of democracy in 1990.

He also won the Parliamentary election in 1994 and 1999 and also served as Home Minister for nine months in 1994/95. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in then Girija Prasad Koirala led interim government in 2006.

He was defeated by Maoist candidate in first Constituent Assembly election held in 2008. He won with a huge margin in the second elections held in 2013 and the recent parliamentary elections. Prior to being elected as Chairman of the UML for the first time in July 2014, he defeated sitting party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal to become Parliamentary Party leader January 25 same year.

The country was in a crisis due to the Indian blockade when Oli was elected prime minister in 2015. His firm stand against the blockade, put pressure on India to lift the embargo though it never officially accepted imposing it, increased people’s respect towards him.

Similarly, it was Oli who signed trade and transit treaty with China for the first time in the history of Nepal. This was one of the reasons for his party to get landmark victory in the recent elections.